Landscape Photography
Winter Time Camera Care
While most people want to stay warm and cozy in their home throughout the winter, there are a large number of people who actually look forward to the colder temperatures and mountains of snow they promise. Such folks enjoy skiing and skating and the dramatic scenery available during the coldest part of the year.
This time also presents many excellent opportunities for interesting and beautiful photographs; it is also a great way to capture some amazing sports photographs as well. There are many tips and tricks for taking images of winter scenery and activities, but among the most important are those dedicated to ensuring the security and performance of the camera itself.
One issue many people are unaware of is the effect of cold weather on batteries. Regardless of whether a camera is a fully automated digital marvel, or a standard SLR, it will contain a battery of some kind or another. Though cold preserves the life of old-fashioned camera film, it reduces the function of batteries – hence the reason that people keep both film and batteries in their freezer! Unfortunately, this means that a digital camera’s performance can be greatly impacted by the temperatures outside.
Many professional photographers have special insulated camera bags for the occasions when their equipment is travelling with them into a harsh or cold climate. Of course, amateur and “everyday” photographers are not likely to own such accessories, so it is recommended that a digital camera be kept in an interior pocket and not hung from the neck or placed in the outer pocket of a winter coat. This is for several reasons in addition to battery depletion.
Apart from decreasing or entirely killing the camera’s battery, the winter doesn’t mean simply cold air, it means snow as well, and cameras don’t function well when either cold or wet. Keeping a camera relatively warm and dry means keeping it functioning properly and free from damage.
Interestingly, keeping a camera too warm can also cause some problems in the outdoors, namely “lens fogging”. This occurs when the camera is brought from one extreme to another too fast – meaning from a pocket to the cold air – which then causes the lens to fog up. Repeatedly exposing lenses to such conditions may cause damage, so a good balance is necessary in order to protect the camera and lens from any long-term problems.
Finally, chattering teeth and trembling are frequently issues when outdoors for any length of time during the winter months. This can mean a shaky hand and a blurry photograph and a photographer should invest in a lightweight, portable tripod for the times when they require a steady, albeit cold hand. A spare set of batteries is also a good choice when enjoying winter photography as well.
Article by...
Amy Renfrey
Digital Photographer, Digital Photography Teacher & Author
